Primary Outcome Measures:
- LV ejection fraction measured by radionuclide ventriculography (RVG). [ Time Frame: 2 weeks, 24 months and 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Left ventricular diastolic and systolic function indices 2-D echocardiogram/Doppler (ECHO/DOPP). [ Time Frame: 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- All cause mortality. [ Time Frame: 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- Non-fatal thromboembolic events including stroke. [ Time Frame: 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- Heart failure hospitalization or intravenous drug therapy in an outpatient heart failure clinic. [ Time Frame: 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- Occurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation or progression to permanent atrial fibrillation. [ Time Frame: 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- Symptoms and quality of life scores (DUke Activity Status Index, short form (SF)-12 scores. [ Time Frame: 2 weeks, 24 and 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- NYHA class using SAS survey, 6 minute hall walk distance. [ Time Frame: 2 weeks, 24 and 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- Serum brain natriuretic peptide level (BNP), which has been shown to be elevated in ventricular paced patients [ Time Frame: 2 weeks, 24 and 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- lead-related complications such as lead dislodgement, myocardial perforation, lead integrity failure, high pacing threshold [ Time Frame: 2 weeks, 24 and 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- total implant procedure and fluoroscopy time [ Time Frame: Implant ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
The primary objective of this study is to compare the effect of RV pacing site on LV systolic function as measured by LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction).
Secondary objectives of this trial include:
- to compare the effect of RVSeptal(RVS) versus RVApical(RVA)pacing on other indices of systolic and diastolic LV function
- to compare the rate of heart failure-related hospitalization between RVS versus RVA pacing
- to compare new-onset atrial fibrillation and stroke rates between RVS versus RVA pacing
- to assess the effect of RVA versus RVS pacing on quality of life and functional capacity
- to compare the rate of successful pacemaker lead implantation, complications and chronic electrical performance of RVS versus RVA pacing