The introduction of two new drug-eluting stents (DES) into clinical practice in the US and a great deal more data about clinical outcomes from stents make a review of the stent landscape especially timely.

In this issue, we feature several articles by the expert clinicians and clinical trialists about the Endeavor, Xience V (Promus), Taxus, and Cypher DES. They review the data we currently have and provide updates about completed and on-going clinical trials, which will help further define the part the various stents play in the treatment of coronary artery stenosis.

Along with new treatment options come new hurdles, and in the case of DES, one of the greatest obstacles is stent thrombosis. Mitchell W. Krucoff, MD, FACC, examines this issue, reviewing both DES and bare-metal stents and citing what needs to happen for success with new innovations.

We then switch gears to the future with a look at the "Stent Pipeline." Alexandre Abizaid, MD, PhD; Andre Lima Brito, MD; and J. Ribamar Costa Jr, MD, give us a review of the absorbable polymers and stents, noting the advancements and drawbacks of DES and discussing what successes erodible polymers may help us achieve in the long-term treatment of the coronary arteries and the reduction of late complications.

In our first department article this month, Mark A. Turco, MD, FSCAI, FACC, and Amy L. Ketron, RN, BSN, provide us with their article on how medical simulation can help reduce door-to-balloon times during acute myocardial infarction intervention by including all personnel in the training process.

Our FDA insights department article coincides with our DES feature. Andrew Farb, MD, and Ashley B. Boam, MS, provide us with a look at how the FDA determines device approval for coronary artery disease treatment. Their article provides insight into an ever-challenging arena.

We close our issue with an interview with Jeffrey W. Moses, MD, one of the pioneers and most experienced operator-investigators in the field of stenting and coronary intervention. He tells us about his current research, which reaches into several aspects of cardiac disease, and about what to look forward to at TCT 2008.

I hope this snapshot of the stent landscape is helpful in assessing a recent shower of new data. There is much more to come from clinical trials examining the use of stents in acute myocardial infarction, left main and multivessel disease, and in conjunction with new antiplatelet agents, all topics for our upcoming issues. Please let us know your reaction to the articles in this issue, and comment on what you would like to see in the future.