An introducer for providing access to the interior of the heart generally includes a valve, a shaft, and a piercing element. The valve has a substantially closed state in the absence of an instrument inside the valve and an open state in the presence of the instrument inside the valve. The shaft has first and second ends. The piercing element is located at the first end of the shaft. The shaft is removably positioned inside the valve in an assembled condition. The valve is dimensioned to receive the instrument therein upon removal of the shaft from the valve.