An anastomotic tissue connection device has a head side end and a handle side end, with a head part arranged at the head side end. The head part has a reception means for receiving at least one connection member and which is, furthermore, provided with a counter-pressure plate being firmly arranged at a counter-pressure plate holding device and facing the head part. The head part and the counter-pressure plate holding device are relatively movable towards each other. For the support of the counter-pressure plate, the counter-pressure plate holding device forms at least one column so that a space directly behind the counter-pressure plate is freely accessible radially to a circumference of the counter-pressure plate.