A catheter system for gaining access to a patient's vessel, wherein the system comprises: a first catheter comprising: a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a shaft lumen extending therebetween; a distal tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft and defining a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with the shaft lumen and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal tip comprises a first side aperture in fluid communication with the shaft lumen and an exit aperture at the distal end in fluid communication with the shaft lumen, wherein the distal tip has a bending stiffness in the range 0.086 - 0.172 Nm^2 (30 - 60 (pounds force) times (inches squared)) and is a stainless steel tube with an inside diameter of 1.88 mm (0.074 inches) and an outside diameter of 2.39 mm (0.094 inches); a second catheter having a portion configured to extend through the shaft lumen and the first side aperture, the second catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen along a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein a portion of the second catheter is curved along the longitudinal axis and the curved portion is closer to the distal end than the proximal end, wherein the first catheter and the second catheter are configured such that the distal end of the second catheter passes through the first side aperture of the first catheter when advanced through the first catheter; and a needle wire configured to extend through the second catheter lumen and to extend through the distal end exit aperture of the first catheter in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the needle wire having a sharp dissection tip, wherein the needle wire is configured such that it can penetrate a muscle tissue without deflection. a first catheter comprising: a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a shaft lumen extending therebetween; a distal tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft and defining a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with the shaft lumen and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal tip comprises a first side aperture in fluid communication with the shaft lumen and an exit aperture at the distal end in fluid communication with the shaft lumen, wherein the distal tip has a bending stiffness in the range 0.086 - 0.172 Nm^2 (30 - 60 (pounds force) times (inches squared)) and is a stainless steel tube with an inside diameter of 1.88 mm (0.074 inches) and an outside diameter of 2.39 mm (0.094 inches); a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a shaft lumen extending therebetween; a distal tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft and defining a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with the shaft lumen and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal tip comprises a first side aperture in fluid communication with the shaft lumen and an exit aperture at the distal end in fluid communication with the shaft lumen, wherein the distal tip has a bending stiffness in the range 0.086 - 0.172 Nm^2 (30 - 60 (pounds force) times (inches squared)) and is a stainless steel tube with an inside diameter of 1.88 mm (0.074 inches) and an outside diameter of 2.39 mm (0.094 inches); a second catheter having a portion configured to extend through the shaft lumen and the first side aperture, the second catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen along a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein a portion of the second catheter is curved along the longitudinal axis and the curved portion is closer to the distal end than the proximal end, wherein the first catheter and the second catheter are configured such that the distal end of the second catheter passes through the first side aperture of the first catheter when advanced through the first catheter; and a needle wire configured to extend through the second catheter lumen and to extend through the distal end exit aperture of the first catheter in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the needle wire having a sharp dissection tip, wherein the needle wire is configured such that it can penetrate a muscle tissue without deflection.