Intensivists can now place PEG tubes (PUGs, actually)

New ultrasound-guided approach could reduce ICU stays

When a ventilator-dependent patient survives their acute illness but will be dependent on hospital care for weeks or months, they often need a tracheostomy and a percutaneous gastrostomy tube before discharge to a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH).  Achieving the placement of these two small plastic tubes into the body, generally requiring two diffe…