A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a handle portion; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion, wherein the elongated body portion defines a curved configuration, the elongated body portion including an engagement member rotatably supported on to a distal portion of the elongated body portion, the engagement member defining an engagement slot and being axially movable about the elongated body portion from a retracted position to an advanced position; a firing assembly including a firing trigger, a firing link, and a pusher link extending through the elongated body portion, the pusher link being movably supported for distal translation through the elongated body portion in response to actuation of the firing trigger, the pusher link including a plurality of link segments (332, 334, 336); a stapling assembly configured to house a plurality of surgical staples and including an outer shell having an engagement tab, the engagement member being rotatable relative to the elongated body portion and the stapling assembly to releasably position the engagement tab within the engagement slot to releasably secure the stapling assembly at the distal end of the elongated body portion such that, in response to distal advancement of the pusher link, the plurality of surgical staples are ejected from the stapling assembly; and an approximation assembly, the approximation assembly including a drive member configured to extend distally from the elongated body potion and the stapling assembly, the distal end of the drive member configured to releasably engage an anvil assembly; wherein each link segment (332, 334, 336) defines a hollow interior configured to slidably receive a distal portion of the approximation assembly and wherein ball-and-socket joints (333, 335a, 335b, 337) pivotably couple the plurality of link segments to one another to facilitate translation of the pusher link through the curved elongated body portion. a handle portion; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion, wherein the elongated body portion defines a curved configuration, the elongated body portion including an engagement member rotatably supported on to a distal portion of the elongated body portion, the engagement member defining an engagement slot and being axially movable about the elongated body portion from a retracted position to an advanced position; a firing assembly including a firing trigger, a firing link, and a pusher link extending through the elongated body portion, the pusher link being movably supported for distal translation through the elongated body portion in response to actuation of the firing trigger, the pusher link including a plurality of link segments (332, 334, 336); a stapling assembly configured to house a plurality of surgical staples and including an outer shell having an engagement tab, the engagement member being rotatable relative to the elongated body portion and the stapling assembly to releasably position the engagement tab within the engagement slot to releasably secure the stapling assembly at the distal end of the elongated body portion such that, in response to distal advancement of the pusher link, the plurality of surgical staples are ejected from the stapling assembly; and an approximation assembly, the approximation assembly including a drive member configured to extend distally from the elongated body potion and the stapling assembly, the distal end of the drive member configured to releasably engage an anvil assembly; wherein each link segment (332, 334, 336) defines a hollow interior configured to slidably receive a distal portion of the approximation assembly and wherein ball-and-socket joints (333, 335a, 335b, 337) pivotably couple the plurality of link segments to one another to facilitate translation of the pusher link through the curved elongated body portion.