An illuminated surgical retractor for illuminating a subcutaneous surgicalfield in the space between a vessel, such as the saphenous vein, and thesubcutaneous tissue when the illuminated retractor is used to retract thesubcutaneous tissue away from the superior surface of the vessel, theilluminated surgical retractor having a handle member pivotally connected atan acute angle to a first elongate section and a second elongate section thatis releasably connected to the first elongate section and a portion of thesecond elongate section defining an illumination input end portion which isoptically coupled to a light source so that the second elongate section issubstantially illuminated, and, a shroud member is positioned on the proximalend portion of the first elongate section to aid in the dissection of theintervening tissue.
