A surgical stapling device (10) and method for joining tissue portions are provided including a handle assembly (12), an elongate body (100) extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly (102) supported on a distal end of the elongate body, and an anvil assembly (140) at a distal end of the surgical stapling device. The anvil assembly includes a shaft (144) for removably coupling the anvil assembly to the cartridge assembly and a head (142) pivotally mounted to a distal end of the shaft. A sleeve member (160) is slidably disposed about the shaft of the anvil assembly and is transitionable between a first position, where the sleeve member engages the head of the anvil assembly to secure the head in an un-tilted condition, and a second position, where the sleeve member is disengaged from the head of the anvil assembly to allow the head to tilt.
