A steerable dilator includes a dilator body for holding and guiding a sheath, the dilator body having a deflectable distal end portion, and at least one lateral passage configured to accommodate at least one steering cable and a steering handle operatively associated with a proximal end portion of the dilator and having an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the at least one steering cable accommodated within the at least one lateral passages of the dilator for steering the deflectable distal end portion of the dilator in at least one direction.
