Skeletal muscle ventricles for total heart replacement.

Skeletal muscle ventricles (SMV) were constructed from canine left latissimus dorsi muscle. The animals were divided into three groups; group A (n = 5), SMVs rested 4 weeks without electrical conditioning; group B (n = 6), SMVs rested 4 weeks and then electrically conditioned for 6 weeks; group C (n