A surgical stapling device and method for joining tissue portions are providedincluding ahandle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, acartridge assemblysupported on a distal end of the elongate body, and an anvil assembly at adistal end of thesurgical stapling device. The anvil assembly includes a shaft for removablycoupling the anvilassembly to the cartridge assembly and a head pivotally mounted to a distalend of the shaft. Asleeve member is slidably disposed about the shaft of the anvil assembly andis transitionablebetween a first position, where the sleeve member engages the head of theanvil assembly tosecure the head in an un-tilted condition, and a second position, where thesleeve member isdisengaged from the head of the anvil assembly to allow the head to tilt.
