title: [Pediatric intensive care in Latin America].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the practice of pediatric intensive care in Latin America and compare it with two European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of data presented by member countries of the Sociedad Latinoamericana de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico (SLACIP), Spain and Portugal, in the context of a Symposium of Spanish and Portuguese - speaking pediatric intensivists during the Fifth World Congress on Pediatric Intensive Care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric intensivists in representation of each member country of the SLACIP, Spain and Portugal.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each country presented its data on child health, medical facilities for children, pediatric intensive care units, pediatric intensivists, certification procedures, equipment, morbidity, mortality, and issues requiring intervention in each participating country.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 11 countries was analyzed. Nine countries were from Latin America (Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, México, Dominican Republic and Uruguay), and two from Europe (Spain and Portugal). Data from Bolivia and Guatemala were partially considered. Populational, institutional, and operative differences were identified. Mean PICU mortality was 13.29% in Latin America and 5% in the European countries (P=0.005). There was an inverse relationship between mortality and availability of pediatric intensive care units, pediatric intensivists, number of beds, and number of pediatric specialty centers. Financial and logistic limitations, as well as deficiencies in support disciplines, severity of diseases, malnutrition, late admissions, and inadequate initial treatments could be important contributors to mortality at least in some of these countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are important differences in population, morbidity and mortality in critically ill children among the participating countries. Mortality shows an inverse correlation to the availability of pediatric intensive care units, intensive care beds, pediatric intensivists, and pediatric subspecialty centers.
authors: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátrica, Hospital de los Valles y Hospital SOLCA, Quito, Ecuador. santiago.campos@hospitalaxxis.com.ec
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Campos-Miño
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Sasbón
authors: B
authors: B
authors: von Dessauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D007843:Latin America; D010343:Patient Admission; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D011174:Portugal; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013030:Spain; D013675:Technology, High-Cost / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce