An apparatus for joining two hollow organ sections includes a staple cartridgeassemblyincluding an annular wall, an anvil assembly, a buttress member, and afastening member. Theannular wall of the staple cartridge assembly defines an inner aperture in aninner surfacethereof and an outer aperture in an outer surface thereof The buttress memberis configuredto be positioned on a distal surface of the staple cartridge assembly. Thebuttress memberdefines a cutout on a peripheral portion thereof The fastening member has afirst end securelyaffixed to the inner aperture of the annular wall of the staple cartridgeassembly and a secondend securely affixed to the outer aperture of the annular wall of the staplecartridge assemblyto secure the buttress member on the staple cartridge assembly. The cutout ofthe buttressmember is in registration with the outer aperture of the annular wall.
