What does MONA stand for in traditional ACS management?

What does MONA stand for in traditional ACS management?

• A. Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin
• B. Aspirin, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
• C. Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Anticoagulant
• D. Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Antiplatelet

Answer: (A)

MONA is a mnemonic for the initial management steps in suspected acute coronary syndrome: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin. Morphine provides pain relief and can blunt the sympathetic response to ischemia. Oxygen is used to improve saturation when the patient is hypoxemic (not given routinely to everyone with ACS if oxygen levels are normal). Nitroglycerin helps by vasodilating the coronary and systemic vessels, which reduces chest pain and myocardial workload. Aspirin is a key antiplatelet agent that inhibits platelet aggregation and helps limit clot growth, improving outcomes. Together, these four items address pain control, oxygen delivery, reduction of myocardial oxygen demand, and antiplatelet protection—the rationale behind the mnemonic. The other options alter the components or the order, or replace one item with an anticoagulant or another drug, so they don’t align with the traditional MONA mnemonic.

MONA is a mnemonic for the initial management steps in suspected acute coronary syndrome: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin. Morphine provides pain relief and can blunt the sympathetic response to ischemia. Oxygen is used to improve saturation when the patient is hypoxemic (not given routinely to everyone with ACS if oxygen levels are normal). Nitroglycerin helps by vasodilating the coronary and systemic vessels, which reduces chest pain and myocardial workload. Aspirin is a key antiplatelet agent that inhibits platelet aggregation and helps limit clot growth, improving outcomes. Together, these four items address pain control, oxygen delivery, reduction of myocardial oxygen demand, and antiplatelet protection—the rationale behind the mnemonic. The other options alter the components or the order, or replace one item with an anticoagulant or another drug, so they don’t align with the traditional MONA mnemonic.