Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
A 14-year-old boy was treated at a UAE hospital for a rare congenital heart condition that had gone undetected since birth and could have proved fatal if left untreated.
Mazin Muntassir, a Sudanese national, was brought to Aster Hospital Mankhool, Dubai, after experiencing persistent fatigue, a blackout episode, and elevated blood pressure — symptoms highly unusual for his age, a statement from the hospital said.
An initial cardiac assessment revealed signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, prompting advanced imaging, including ECG, echocardiogram, and CT aortography. These tests confirmed the presence of coarctation of the aorta (CoA), a congenital condition in which the aorta — the major artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body — is abnormally narrowed.
CoA is a relatively common congenital heart defect, accounting for about 4–6% of all such cases, and estimated to occur in roughly 1 out of every 2,900 live births.
Although prenatal diagnosis is possible, it remains challenging, particularly in isolated cases. The condition is more prevalent in males.
“While CoA is relatively common among congenital heart defects, diagnosis at adolescence — like in Mazin’s case — is exceptionally rare,” the statement said.
“This condition is most often detected in infancy or early childhood. It is extremely rare to diagnose coarctation of the aorta at the age of 14, as was the case with Mazin, making this a highly uncommon case” said doctors at Aster Hospital who treated him.
Mazin was under the care of Dr. Naveed Ahmed, Head of Cardiology at Aster Hospitals & Clinics UAE and Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Aster Hospital Mankhool.
Speaking to about the case, Dr. Naveed said: “CoA is typically diagnosed during infancy or early childhood. It’s extremely rare to catch it this late, and had it gone unnoticed for a few more years, it could have led to permanent hypertension, heart failure, or even stroke.”
“While the procedure itself was technically smooth due to precise pre-procedural planning based on CT imaging, the true complexity of this case lies in the delayed diagnosis. Identifying and successfully treating the condition in adolescence after years of being missed made it both clinically challenging and unique,” he added.
Instead of open-heart surgery, the cardiology team opted for a minimally invasive coarctoplasty with stent placement, performed via the femoral artery. The outcome was excellent, and Mazin is expected to return to a full and active life.
“The minimally invasive procedure involved the insertion of a balloon-mounted stent to open the narrowed section of the aorta. This approach avoids open surgery, reduces hospital stay, and ensures faster recovery — especially important for a young, active patient,” Dr. Naveed explained.
Mazin’s blood pressure normalised after the procedure, and he experienced a marked improvement in energy levels, resuming his daily activities within a day.
“He is expected to return to sports and full physical activity within the next 4–6 weeks,” the doctor said.
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Mazin said: “Before the treatment, I felt tired all the time and couldn’t play or do normal things like other kids. Now I feel healthy and strong again. I’m so grateful to Dr. Naveed and the team at Aster Hospital Mankhool for helping me get my life back.”
His mother and brother, who accompanied him during treatment, also expressed deep appreciation toward Dr. Naveed and the entire medical and nursing staff for their care, compassion, and professionalism.
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Naveed urged parents to be alert to potential signs of heart defects in children. “When the child suffers recurrent chest infections, severe shortness of breath while playing with friends, and has frequent episodes of passing out, parents should take the child to a doctor for a detailed clinical examination and then to a cardiologist to confirm if he has any heart issues.”
“It is very important to detect congenital heart disease as early as possible and get it treated. Delay in diagnosis and treatment leads to permanent changes in the body and makes treatment difficult or impossible,” he added.
On early detection, Dr. Naveed noted: “Routine pre-natal ultrasound done during pregnancy to check for any congenital defects can sometimes detect heart defects, which later can be confirmed with fetal echocardiogram by a cardiologist.”
