A surgical apparatus (10) suitable for endoscopic surgery and comprising: an insertion assembly (14) having a handle (22) and a substantially rigid elongate member (24) with a proximal end attached to said handle and extending distally from said handle to a distal end an uninflated elongate balloon (12) carried by said insertion assembly on the distal end of the elongate member, said balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state, said balloon in its inflated state having an open space (16) extending transversely through said balloon.
