Abstract: An anvil assembly for use with a circular surgical stapling device having a housing and venting means, in the form of vent holes, for venting the interior of the anvil assembly. The housing includes channeling means in the form of a plurality of longitudinally extending and radially spaced surface grooves in an outer surface of the housing which are communicable with the vent holes to aid in directing a flow of air between the vent holes and the outer surface of the housing member to significantly reduce a suction effect therebetween. The channeling means further allows extruded tissue and debris to flow freely from the vent holes.