Goodwill and other intangible assets - changes in carrying amount by reporting segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			$ 1,655,681
Accumulated impairment losses			(332,128)
Goodwill net	$ 1,295,852	$ 1,323,553
Goodwill related to acquisitions	3,689	19,725
Translation adjustment	(22,821)	(47,426)
Goodwill net	1,276,720	1,295,852
Vascular North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			564,177
Accumulated impairment losses			(219,527)
Goodwill net	345,546	344,650
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	896
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill net	345,546	345,546
Anesthesia North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			214,429
Accumulated impairment losses			(84,531)
Goodwill net	141,122	129,898
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	12,398
Translation adjustment	131	(1,174)
Goodwill net	141,253	141,122
Surgical North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			250,912
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill net	250,912	250,912
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill net	250,912	250,912
EMEA
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			339,029
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill net	306,009	339,029
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	1,142
Translation adjustment	(15,968)	(34,162)
Goodwill net	290,041	306,009
Asia
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			144,712
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill net	141,067	144,712
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	4,095
Translation adjustment	(2,882)	(7,740)
Goodwill net	138,185	141,067
OEM
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			0
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill net	1,194	0
Goodwill related to acquisitions	3,689	1,194
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill net	4,883	1,194
All other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill			142,422
Accumulated impairment losses			$ (28,070)
Goodwill net	110,002	114,352
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation adjustment	(4,102)	(4,350)
Goodwill net	$ 105,900	$ 110,002

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
-Subparagraph (a)
-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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975

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