An anvil assembly delivery system includes an anvil assembly having a centerrodand an anvil head assembly pivotally secured to the center rod a flexible tubehaving a firstend configured for oral insertion into a patient and a second end engaged withthe anvilassembly, and a retrieval suture connected to the head assembly positioned toextend fromthe anvil assembly in a direction opposite to the flexible tube. The anvilassembly deliverysystem also includes a spacer suture tube positioned adjacent the anvil headassembly anddefining a suture channel, which is supported on the retrieval suture and isdimensioned toprevent the retrieval suture from becoming trapped in the staple line of astapling device . Inan embodiment, the spacer is a suture tube defining a suture channel whichreceives theretrieval suture.
