Management strategies for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have undergone great evolution over the past decade. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes, as well as predictors of survival, among patients who received the most contemporary percutaneous coronary revascularization strategies for STEMI in real clinical practice. During the period from October 1, 2000 to April 30, 2002, 316 patients have undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a tertiary University hospital, the in-hospital (11.1%), 30-day (13.9%) and long-term (21.8%) mortality rates were higher than that reported in randomized studies. This is likely to be due to the higher prevalence of adverse clinical profiles. Multivariable analysis show that age >65, cardiogenic shock, resuscitated cardiac arrest and intubation independently predicted in-hospital and long-term mortality, while multi-vessel disease predicted major adverse cardiac event (MACE). Among patients with cardiogenic shock, similar mortality was observed in patients with anterior myocardial infarction (MI) or inferior MI with/without right ventricle involvement.