In order, in the case of a surgical instrument for introducing intervertebral implants into the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bodies, to facilitate the introduction of the intervertebral implant even when access is difficult, it is proposed that the surgical instrument comprises two mutually opposing guide bodies, which each have a guide directed towards the other guide body and together form between them a guideway, along which an intervertebral implant is insertable laterally into the intervertebral space.