A surgical suturing apparatus (20) includes an end effector including a jaw assembly and a needle assembly. The jaw assembly includes first (27) and second jaws (28) movable between open and closed positions. Each of the first and second jaws includes a tissue facing surface (40) having an elongated rail (35) and a longitudinal row of teeth (37, 38). Each tooth of the longitudinal rows of teeth of the first and second jaws includes a needle channel (29, 30) extending therethrough. The elongated rails and the longitudinal rows of teeth of the first and second jaws are disposed in opposed relation relative to each other. The needle assembly includes a first needle (46), a second needle (46), and a suture (47) coupled to the first and second needles. The first needle is slidable through the needle channels of the first jaw and the second needle is slidable through the needle channels of the second jaw.
