Cardiomyoplasty is an experimental surgery used to treat heart failure. The surgery involves wrapping a muscle from the back or abdomen around the heart and electrically stimulating it to contract with a device similar to a pacemaker. The contractions help the heart to beat. While the cardiomyoplasty procedure was originally met with enthusiasm when it first appeared, recent research seems to suggest that the procedure may not improve a patient's circulation as much as previously hoped. The surgery is generally not considered a viable option for the treatment of advanced heart failure.