An acute massive pulmonary embolism causing circulatory collapse is fatal without aggressive intervention. Pulmonary angiography is usually required to confirm the diagnosis in an emergency condition. However the procedure carries a high risk in patients with unsupported cardiogenic shock. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation plays an important role in resuscitation and preoperative support during pulmonary angiography. We describe a patient who was sent to the emergency station with the presentation of cardiac arrest. She was successfully resuscitated using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and subsequently treated by a surgical embolectomy.