A stabilization tool supports a blood vessel for suturing during cardiovascular surgery. The support vessel may typically be part of an artificial graft used in replacing an aortic arch. The stabilization tool has a central shaft with a mounting element at a first end. A plurality of retractable arms have their distal ends affixed to a second end of the central shaft. The retractable arms are movable between a nested position flanking the central shaft and a range of extended positions wherein proximal ends of the retractable arms are spaced away from the central shaft. A closing ring is slidable over the retractable arms from a deployed position adjacent the second end of the central shaft to a retracted position spaced away from the second end to move the retractable arms.
