They usually remove it after treatment when it's no longer being used, and when a patient is finished treatments, if eating, drinking by mouth solely for at least two weeks, is maintaining their weight, all which vary with everyone. I have my 2nd G-tube since 12/10, so it's 2 yrs., and reason I didn't have it removed yet was due to my recurrences, and didn't want to have it removed like the first one, and then need again a month later like I did. Keep it clean with soap and water, after showering I clean it with a gauze with some peroxide around the base plate, and if needed, I sometimes put OTC Bactrim ointment on it or if needed, prescribed clotromizole ointment for any fungal infection, and as ChristineB mentioned, to keep flushing it. I do not cover my peg tube nor do I place any gauze between the plate and stomach not wanting to harbor any moisture. Mine is the balloon type peg tube, so it's just yanked out in the gastro doctors office.