MOANS — Difficult mask ventilation
Predictors of difficult mask ventilation
Mnemonic device
MOANS
Mapping
M
Mask seal poor (beard, facial deformity, edentulous, blood/vomit)
O
Obesity / Obstruction (BMI > 30, OSA, neck mass)
A
Age > 55
N
No teeth (edentulous — leave dentures in for mask seal!)
S
Stiff lungs (asthma, COPD, pulmonary edema, pregnancy, chest wall stiffness)
Clinical note: Edentulous tip: leaving dentures in helps mask seal — remove just before laryngoscopy.