A surgical clamp includes a shaft having clamping jaws at a proximal end and an operative handle assembly at a distal end. The shaft has properties for being moved to a desired shape by the user prior to operation of the handle assembly and for holding the desired shape during operation of the handle assembly. The shaft may include a bendable element extending along an axis between the handle assembly and the jaws. A control element disposed relative to the bendable element is operable from the handle assembly at the proximal end of the shaft to move the jaws relative to each other at the distal end of the shaft. An associated method includes the step of bending the shaft to a desired shape prior to operation of the clamp and maintaining the shaft in substantially the desired shape during operation of the clamp.