title: A survey on the resources and practices in pediatric critical care of resource-rich and resource-limited countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contemporary critical care research necessitates involvement of multiple centers, preferably from many countries. Adult and pediatric research networks have produced outstanding data; however, their involvement is restricted to a small percentage of the industrialized nations. Implementation of their findings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is fraught with challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an online international survey to assess and compare disease burden and resources to participate in multicenter research studies through a listserv of the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. Respondents were grouped into high-income countries and LMICs on the basis of World Bank classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey was completed by 73 centers in 34 countries (34 from high-income countries and 39 from LMICs). Compared with high-income countries, the pediatric intensive care units in LMICs were characterized by a lower number of critical care specialists, more difficult access to hemodialysis, and a lower number of elective postoperative patients, but a similar overall disease burden. Training and resources for research were comparable in the two cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although differences exist in access to both trained providers and equipment, the survey results were more striking in their similarity. It is essential that centers from LMICs be included in multinational studies, to generate results applicable to all children worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Peoria, IL USA.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA.
authors.forename: Harsheen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kashyap
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA.
authors.forename: Ognjen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gajic
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murthy
keywords: International survey; Low- and middle-income countries; Pediatric critical care