A surgical circular fastener apparatus includes an elongated body defining alongitudinal axis and having proximal and distal ends, a fastener cartridgedisposedadjacent the distal end of the body, an anvil retainer releasably mountedrelative to thefastener cartridge； and a manually operably release configured to move betweena firstposition corresponding to a secured condition of the anvil retainer relativeto the fastenercartridge and a second position corresponding to a release condition of theanvil retainerrelative to the fastener cartridge.
