Skeletal muscle ventricle aortic counterpulsation: function during chronic heart failure.

Background. Skeletal muscle ventricles (SMVs) are pumping chambers formed from latissimus dorsi muscle. The SMV aortic counterpulsator model has been proven to be stable in the long term and provide effective diastolic pressure augmentation in normal dogs. This study seeks to prove that the aortic counterpulsator model can function effectively in chronic heart failure.