A surgical retractor is disclosed having a handle portion, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion and including an outer tube, a stabilizing member extending from a distal end of the outer tube and a pair of resilient bands pivotably connected to a distal end portion of the stabilizing member. An actuation mechanism is provided which is associated with the handle portion and the resilient bands for moving the bands between open and closed position. The surgical retractor further includes a sheath dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the stabilizing member and the bands. A surgical kit is also provided having a package configured to receive a surgical instrument, a base member for sealing the package, a surgical instrument having proximal and distal ends and having a mechanism for performing a surgical procedure located at the distal end, and a static barrier for enclosing the mechanism of the surgical retractor.