A surgical apparatus (500), comprising: an anvil jaw (502) configured to form at least one surgical staple; a cartridge jaw (504) configured to deploy one or more surgical staples against the anvil jaw; and a pressure distribution device (510) attached to at least one of the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw, wherein the pressure distribution device is configured to distribute a clamping pressure to a target tissue during a clamping and a stapling of the target tissue, said pressure distribution device (510) being moveable between a retracted and an extended state and including at least one inflatable bladder (516) that is deflated in the retracted state and inflated in the extended state.