Hyperpyrexia in a patient with a left ventricular assist device: a diagnosis beyond the obvious

As the number of patients receiving a left ventricular assist device increases, physicians must always keep in mind that several conditions can present with non-specific symptoms, such as fever, tachypnoea and confusion. We herein report the case of a left ventricular assist device patient who developed a life-threatening condition with acute hyperthermia, confusion and extremities' clonus and muscle spasms. The patient was diagnosed with serotonin syndrome, attributed to the coadministration of 2 commonly prescribed medications (citalopram and omeprazole). This case highlights that a significant proportion of left ventricular assist device patients is treated with serotonergic agents that may predispose them to the appearance of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.