A 14-year-old Sudanese boy has been given a second chance at life after doctors at Aster Hospital Mankhool diagnosed and treated him for a rare congenital heart defect that had gone unnoticed since birth.
Mazin Muntassir Hassan was rushed to the hospital after experiencing unexplained fatigue, a blackout episode, and high blood pressure—alarming symptoms for someone his age. Upon further testing, doctors discovered a critical narrowing of the aorta, known as coarctation of the aorta (CoA), a rare condition especially at his age.
“Coarctation of the aorta 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,” said Dr. Naveed Ahmed, Head of Cardiology at Aster Hospitals & Clinics UAE and the lead specialist in Mazin’s case.
Rather than subjecting the teenager to open-heart surgery, the medical team performed a minimally invasive stent procedure via the femoral artery. The operation was successful, and Mazin is now on the road to full recovery. His blood pressure normalized immediately, and within just one day, he began regaining his energy. Doctors expect him to return to sports within four to six weeks.
“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,” Mazin shared. “I’m so grateful to Dr. Naveed and the team at Aster Hospital Mankhool for helping me get my life back.”
