When something is described as “ready for prime time,” we take that to mean the product, policy, or procedure is accepted as effective, professional, and able to contribute to the common good. Based on these criteria, carotid artery stenting seems poised for stardom—at least, according to some.

The feature articles that comprise this premier issue of Endovascular Today explore the many facets of the carotid artery stenting phenomenon, with an eye to providing a balanced overview. You will find a discussion of embolization prevention techniques in Dr. Takao Ohki's article on protecting the brain. Also, you can sample the professional debate over whether the innovative procedure really deserves all the praise it has been receiving by taking a look at Dr. Mark Wholey's article on carotid artery stenting, and then reading Dr. David Deaton's piece on the merits of carotid endarterectomy.

Even as stenting becomes readily available and more commonly accepted by physicians and patients alike, the technology continues to evolve. The feature articles here, as well as those we plan to present in future issues of Endovascular Today, all aim to provide an in-depth look at the changing face of a very novel aspect of modern medicine.