Abstract: A surgical instrument useful for forming a buttonhole through the stomach walls in gastroplastic surgery has a forceps handle, a hinge, and two jaws. The jaws form an aperture proximal the hinge which grasps the tubular pouch formed along the stomach wall. At the distal end of the jaws are a pair of rings which compress and define the location of a stapled buttonhole in the stomach walls. A cup is attached to one ring which is adapted to hold the nut and anvil of a stapling device which is used to cut the buttonhole in the center of the compressed rings and to affix a ring of staples about the periphery of the buttonhole.