Percutaneous ultrasound guided gastrostomy (PUG) is similar in terms of complications to percutaneous gastrostomy tube (PRG) placement and a safe method for gastrostomy tube placement in the critically ill with the added benefits of bedside placement, elimination of radiation exposure, and expanded and improved access to care.

A prospective, observational, non-randomized cohort trial was performed comparing 25 consecutive patients who underwent PUG placement between April 2020 and August 2020 with 25 consecutive patients who underwent PRG placement between February 2020 and March 2020.

Procedure time, sedation, analgesia requirements, and complications were compared between the two groups in non-inferiority analysis.

Technical success rates were 96% in both groups (24/25) of procedures.

92% of patients in the PUG cohort were admitted to the ICU at the time of G-tube request. Aside from significantly more COVID-19 patients in the PUG group (P < .001), there was no other statistically significant difference in patient demographics.

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