Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is an embolus sufficiently obstructing pulmonary blood flow to cause right ventricular (RV) failure and hemodynamic instability. We have utilized veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for early and aggressive intervention for massive PE patients. We present a case of a 61-year-old female placed on VA-ECMO for a massive PE while presenting in cardiac arrest and receiving mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) via the LUCAS 2.0 device (Physio-Control Inc., Lund, Sweden). The patient suffered a severe liver laceration secondary to mechanical CPR and required a decompressive laparotomy. This case highlights that mechanical CPR during other interventions can lead to malposition of the device and could result in solid organ injury.

Candy cane syndrome (CCS) is a rare complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), in which the afferent jejunal limb is excessively long. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. A 57-year-old female with a history of RYGB 15 years prior to presentation reported 7 months of persistent heartburn refractory to proton pump inhibitors. Upper endoscopy revealed a 9 cm blind, afferent jejunal limb. After the blind limb was resected laparoscopically, her symptoms resolved. Fifteen years is the longest duration reported from time of RYGB to symptom onset of CCS. Furthermore, heartburn is less frequently seen as a presenting complaint of CCS. Clinicians should thus maintain a high index of suspicion for CCS in patients with refractory heartburn and a history of RYGB, regardless of how long ago the RYGB was performed.

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