LEMON — Difficult airway prediction
Pre-intubation airway assessment
Mnemonic device
LEMON
Mapping
L
Look externally — facial features, beard, trauma, masses
E
Evaluate 3-3-2: 3 fingers in mouth opening, 3 fingers chin-to-hyoid, 2 fingers hyoid-to-thyroid
M
Mallampati class I-IV (visualization of palate + uvula)
O
Obstruction (tumor, abscess, hematoma, foreign body, anaphylactic edema)
N
Neck mobility (cervical fusion, RA, ankylosing spondylitis, immobilization)
Clinical note: Identifies ~80% of difficult intubations preoperatively. Combine with HEAVEN criteria for emergency airway risk + MOANS for difficult mask.