A portal saver device (14) for installing a flexible cannulated tube (11) at a surgical site. A portal saver device (14) includes an obturator (12). The obturator (12) has an obturator body (24) having a cannulated outer obturator tube (44) extending therethrough. The outer obturator tube (44) has a distal tip (50) with a dilating assembly (52) movable between a collapsed, first configuration and an expanded, second configuration. A shaft expander (42) has a cannulated inner obturator tube (48), which is movable between a first position and a second position within the outer obturator tube (44). In the first position, the inner obturator tube (48) is retracted from the distal tip (50) of the outer obturator tube (44) and the dilating assembly (52) is in the first configuration. In the second position, the inner obturator tube (48) is advanced within the distal tip (50) of the outer obturator tube (44) and the dilating assembly (52) is in the second configuration.
