An apparatus comprising: a surgical circular stapler having a handle portion, an elongated shaft protruding distally from the handle portion, and a stapling head coupled to the elongated shaft; and an introducer for introducing the surgical circular stapler into a patient and comprising: a hollow flexible sheath having a distal end and an open proximal end, said hollow flexible sheath sized to receive the stapling head and at least a portion of the elongated shaft therein; and a cap assembly attached to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath, characterized in that said cap assembly comprises: a barrel member coupled to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath and defining an opening sized to receive the stapling head therethrough; and a rigid cap member hingably attached to said barrel member and being configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered by said rigid cap member when the stapling head has been inserted therein to a fully inserted position, and an open position wherein said cap assembly may be proximally withdrawn from around the stapling head and elongated shaft; a release arrangement interfacing with said barrel member such that upon an application of a release motion thereto, said rigid cap member is movable to said open position; wherein said cap member has an arcuate underside shaped to match a shape of a perimeter of a corresponding portion of the stapling head and sides (170, 172), each having a cutout wall portion that corresponds with the arcuate underside, wherein said arcuate underside and cutout wall portions enable the cap assembly to pass proximally past the stapling head when being withdrawn therefrom. a surgical circular stapler having a handle portion, an elongated shaft protruding distally from the handle portion, and a stapling head coupled to the elongated shaft; and an introducer for introducing the surgical circular stapler into a patient and comprising: a hollow flexible sheath having a distal end and an open proximal end, said hollow flexible sheath sized to receive the stapling head and at least a portion of the elongated shaft therein; and a cap assembly attached to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath, characterized in that said cap assembly comprises: a barrel member coupled to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath and defining an opening sized to receive the stapling head therethrough; and a rigid cap member hingably attached to said barrel member and being configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered by said rigid cap member when the stapling head has been inserted therein to a fully inserted position, and an open position wherein said cap assembly may be proximally withdrawn from around the stapling head and elongated shaft; a release arrangement interfacing with said barrel member such that upon an application of a release motion thereto, said rigid cap member is movable to said open position; wherein said cap member has an arcuate underside shaped to match a shape of a perimeter of a corresponding portion of the stapling head and sides (170, 172), each having a cutout wall portion that corresponds with the arcuate underside, wherein said arcuate underside and cutout wall portions enable the cap assembly to pass proximally past the stapling head when being withdrawn therefrom. a hollow flexible sheath having a distal end and an open proximal end, said hollow flexible sheath sized to receive the stapling head and at least a portion of the elongated shaft therein; and a cap assembly attached to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath, characterized in that said cap assembly comprises: a barrel member coupled to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath and defining an opening sized to receive the stapling head therethrough; and a rigid cap member hingably attached to said barrel member and being configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered by said rigid cap member when the stapling head has been inserted therein to a fully inserted position, and an open position wherein said cap assembly may be proximally withdrawn from around the stapling head and elongated shaft; a barrel member coupled to said distal end of said hollow flexible sheath and defining an opening sized to receive the stapling head therethrough; and a rigid cap member hingably attached to said barrel member and being configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered by said rigid cap member when the stapling head has been inserted therein to a fully inserted position, and an open position wherein said cap assembly may be proximally withdrawn from around the stapling head and elongated shaft; a release arrangement interfacing with said barrel member such that upon an application of a release motion thereto, said rigid cap member is movable to said open position; wherein said cap member has an arcuate underside shaped to match a shape of a perimeter of a corresponding portion of the stapling head and sides (170, 172), each having a cutout wall portion that corresponds with the arcuate underside, wherein said arcuate underside and cutout wall portions enable the cap assembly to pass proximally past the stapling head when being withdrawn therefrom.