MONA
acronym/ˈməʊ.nə/
Cardiology
Definition
1.The classic initial therapy for acute coronary syndrome.
Expansion
- MMorphine — for ongoing pain (with an antiemetic)
- OOxygen — only if SpO₂ < 94%
- NNitrates — GTN for symptom relief
- AAspirin — 300 mg, chewed — the one that saves lives
Notes
A memorable but deliberately misleading order. The evidence says the reverse: Aspirin is the priority, oxygen is harmful if the patient isn't hypoxic, and nitrates/morphine are symptomatic only.
Treat MONA as a checklist of what's on the trolley, not a sequence — and remember it's only the opening move before reperfusion (PCI or thrombolysis) and dual antiplatelet therapy.
Origin
A woman's name hiding the four bedside drugs reached for in a heart attack.