PUG for IR

Percutaneous Ultrasound Gastrostomy: An Alternative to PEG or PRG

PUG is an ultrasound-based procedure for inserting gastrostomy tubes which can be efficiently performed without ionizing radiation.  It employs readily available medical devices such as ultrasound, feeding tubes, guidewires and dilators. 

Ultrasound delivers the real-time imaging during percutaneous access to the stomach, without ionizing radiation. PUG uniquely enables safe gastrostomy tract formation by seeing critical anatomy. Maximizing your procedural efficiency is good for you, your patient, and your hospital. By providing guidewire access from the stomach (percutaneously) to mouth, over-the-wire gastrostomy (sometimes called PUSH or PULL-through technique) gives the proceduralist control of that anatomy. Depending on your institution, IR procedures may be in the IR suite or at the bedside (e.g., ICU). PUG maximizes your IR suite efficiency by either moving gastrostomies to an ultrasound suite, or moving gastrostomy to the bedside. This would enable the IR physician to complete a gastrostomy between cases that require the fluoro or CT suite, optimizing time and equipment.