The basic pathology of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is based on coronary atherosclerosis and acute vascular occlusion caused by intravascular plaque rupture and thrombosis, which leads to myocardial necrosis. Opening the infarcted coronary artery as soon as possible is of great importance to save the dying myocardium, prevent the expansion of the infarcted area, and protect the pumping function of the myocardium. In recent years, emergency intervention has gradually become the routine method of AMI reperfusion therapy, which has the following advantages compared with thrombolysis: (1) high and stable recanalization rate, especially high TIMI3 flow rate; (2) can simultaneously deal with residual stenosis at the infarct site; (3) can also be done for those who are contraindicated to thrombolysis; (4) can immediately clarify the anatomical structure of the coronary artery and left ventricular function, which is conducive to early risk stratification; (5) improved survival in high-risk patients; (6) lower incidence of myocardial reperfusion injury and cardiac rupture; (7) recurrence of myocardial ischemia and low incidence of reinfarction and re-occlusion; (8) reduced risk of fatal intracranial hemorrhage; and (9) shorter hospitalization days and potentially lower overall medical costs. The disadvantages of emergency interventions are the need for medical centers with catheterization laboratory conditions and medical staff with considerable surgical experience, as well as the increased operating costs due to the need for 24-hour staff availability and the time delay compared to thrombolysis. Several basic concepts of interventional treatment for acute myocardial infarction: (1) direct PCI: refers to direct access to the catheterization laboratory for percutaneous coronary intervention without intravenous thrombolysis; (2) immediate PCI: refers to immediate PCI treatment after thrombolysis when the vessel has been recanalized with TIMI flow ≥ grade 2 or higher. The aim is to deal with residual stenosis and prevent ischemia and reinfarction; (3) Remedial PCI: Immediate PCI is performed after thrombolysis when the vessel has not recanalized and TIMI flow is < grade 2, the aim is to compensate for the failure of thrombolysis and save the myocardium; (4) Delayed PCI: It has been used less and less in the literature in recent years and refers to intervention within 1-7 days after thrombolysis, regardless of the success of thrombolysis, the aim is to deal with residual stenosis to prevent ischemia and reinfarction. In fact, in clinical practice, most of the delayed PCI is focused on this time; (5) Selective PCI: PCI is performed electively after myocardial infarction, mostly after 1 week in patients without symptoms or evidence of persistent ischemia; (6) Easy PCI: a new concept introduced in recent years, which refers to the first reduction of thrombolysis or platelet IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists followed by the use of platelet IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists. The purpose of PCI is to achieve reperfusion as early as possible, minimize waiting time and reduce myocardial injury; (7) Transfer PCI: This is also a concept that has become popular in recent years, which refers to patients sent to hospitals without conditions for intervention and then treated with thrombolysis (or reduced volume thrombolysis) or transferred directly to a center with conditions for emergency intervention without reperfusion. If thrombolysis or half-volume thrombolysis is performed, it actually becomes immediate, remedial or easy PCI. After acute myocardial infarction, occluded vessels should be opened as early as possible with the help of a physician to reduce mortality and improve quality of life.