Midaortic syndrome takes Arizona teen to Boston for innovative surgery

Justin with his father in Boston Justin Kibler is tall, strong and lean. At 18, he’s already a competitive rodeo star and an active member of Future Farmers of America (FFA).  Looking at him, “he’s the picture of health.” But what can’t be seen, just by looking, is that just four years ago, Justin developed an extremely rare and dangerous disease called midaortic syndrome (MAS). And he needed special care that no one in his entire home state of Arizona could provide. Midaortic syndrome is characterized by a narrowing of the parts of the aorta (the main artery that delivers oxygen-rich blood throughout the body), running through the chest and abdomen. MAS causes severe high blood pressure and can also significantly damage the brain, kidneys, intestines and limbs. Untreated, the disease is debilitating and life-threatening. Most children with MAS have obvious symptoms of physical decline, but “Justin was asymptomatic — up to and after the diagnosis, he felt fine.” says his mother, Wendy. It was at a routine, pre-football season check-up in which Justin’s pediatrician, Dr. Teresa Longoria, first noted his blood pressure was quite high. She ordered more tests: an eye test, an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), and eventually a renal ultrasound that revealed a narrowed aorta. While on the outside, Justin seemed perfectly fit to play any sport he wanted that fall, inside his body there were life-threatening problems affecting his liver, heart an...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Dr. Deborah Stein Heung Bae Kim Midaortic Syndrome and Renovascular Hypertension (MAS/RVH) Program Source Type: news