We conducted a cross-sectional and multicenter study based on a retrospective chart review including every death occurring between January 2003 and December 2004 in five Brazilian PICUs of university-affiliated and tertiary hospitals located in Porto Alegre (two), São Paulo (one) and Salvador (two). Two fellows of each service filled a standardized protocol, searching information regarding: demographic aspects, the death cause, the diagnosis of BD and related protocols (or guidelines), and subsequent management. The data were compared using the Student t test, ANOVA, chi-square and RR.