Abstract: The present invention provides a medical system including a protective sleeve for a medical device having a distal end positionable in a blood vessel, the protective sleeve including a body defining a passage therethrough and a vent in fluid communication with the passage, where at least a portion of the distal end of the medical device is positionable within the passage. An introducer device may be included having a sheath, where the sheath defines a first passage for receiving a portion of the catheter. In addition, the sleeve may be releasably engageable with the introducer device for subsequent insertion of the medical device into the introducer device.