The catastrophe of isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) includes intestinal ischemia and rupture of dissection aneurysm. Conservative therapy (anticoagulation plus blood pressure control), surgery and stenting are the common treatments for ISMAD. However, there are diverse views on the indications for and timing of its treatment, as well as the selection of stent types. Western scholars consider that guideline for treatment of ISMAD cannot be derived because it is extremely rare. However, the reported number of cases of ISMAD in China indicates that ISMAD is not actually rare. So, there are opportunities to conduct clinical studies on ISMAD in the area of vascular surgery in China, and thereby may provide substantial clinical evidence for the establishment of guideline for ISMAD treatment.