Goodwill and other intangible assets - changes in carrying amount by reporting segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	$ 1,655,681	$ 1,686,331
Accumulated impairment losses	(332,128)	(332,128)
Goodwill net	1,323,553	1,354,203
Goodwill related to acquisitions	19,725	16,392
Translation adjustment	(47,426)	(47,042)
Goodwill net	1,295,852	1,323,553
Vascular North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	564,177	564,089
Accumulated impairment losses	(219,527)	(219,527)
Goodwill net	344,650	344,562
Goodwill related to acquisitions	896	0
Translation adjustment	0	88
Goodwill net	345,546	344,650
Anesthesia North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	214,429	214,898
Accumulated impairment losses	(84,531)	(84,531)
Goodwill net	129,898	130,367
Goodwill related to acquisitions	12,398	0
Translation adjustment	(1,174)	(469)
Goodwill net	141,122	129,898
Surgical North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	250,912	250,506
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0
Goodwill net	250,912	250,506
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	406
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill net	250,912	250,912
EMEA
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	339,029	373,417
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0
Goodwill net	339,029	373,417
Goodwill related to acquisitions	1,142	0
Translation adjustment	(34,162)	(34,388)
Goodwill net	306,009	339,029
Asia
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	144,712	136,946
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0
Goodwill net	144,712	136,946
Goodwill related to acquisitions	4,095	15,986
Translation adjustment	(7,740)	(8,220)
Goodwill net	141,067	144,712
OEM
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	0
Accumulated impairment losses	0
Goodwill net	0
Goodwill related to acquisitions	1,194
Translation adjustment	0
Goodwill net	1,194	0
All other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	142,422	146,475
Accumulated impairment losses	(28,070)	(28,070)
Goodwill net	114,352	118,405
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation adjustment	(4,350)	(4,053)
Goodwill net	$ 110,002	$ 114,352

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
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Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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