Abstract:Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment strategy of spontaneous isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SIDSMA). Methods: The clinical data of 15 patients with SIDSMA undergoing endovascular stent placement from January 2008 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: None of the 15 patients had complication of rupture/hemorrhage of the dissection or bowel infarction. Of the patients, single layer stents were deployed in 12 cases, and overlapping stents were deployed in 3 cases. A total of 18 stents (2 balloon expandable stents and 16 self-expandable stents) were deployed. Fourteen (93.3%) patients had relief of symptoms, one (6.7%) patient’s symptoms remained unchanged, and no death or severe complications such as intestinal infarction, abdominal bleeding, cardiac infarction, cerebrovascular accident, renal failure, gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage or pneumonia occurred after operation or during follow-up. The average length of hospital stay and follow-up was 3 d (2–7 d) and 11 months (6–23 months), respectively. All of the 15 patients underwent CTA examination 6 months later, and the results showed that the stent patency rate was 100% and one (6.7%) patient developed a new dissection distal to the stent. Conclusion: For SIDSMA patients without rupture/hemorrhage or bowel infarction, endovascular stent placement is a feasible, minimally invasive and effective treatment option.