Commitments and contingent liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 18, 2017	Mar. 24, 2017	Dec. 05, 2014	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 10, 2017
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating leases, rental expense					$ 36,200	$ 34,000	$ 34,600
Current portion of allowance for doubtful accounts				$ 3,500	3,500	2,000
Accrued expenses				96,853	96,853	65,149
Discontinued Operations
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingency reserve for litigation				100	$ 100	1,600
Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Time-frame over which the accrued amounts may be paid out, in years					P15Y
Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Time-frame over which the accrued amounts may be paid out, in years					P20Y
Accrued Liabilities
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Waste disposed accrued liability				1,000	$ 1,000	1,100
Contingency reserve for litigation				3,800	3,800	2,500
Other Liability
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Waste disposed accrued liability				5,800	5,800	$ 5,800
Distributor vs Teleflex Medical Trading Company, Ltd.
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value		$ 7,800
Distributor vs Teleflex Medical Trading Company, Ltd. Repurchase of Inventory
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value		14,900
Teleflex Medical Trading Company, Ltd. vs Distributor - Outstanding Receivables
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value		$ 9,300
Sales returns, goods				11,900
Current portion of allowance for doubtful accounts				$ 9,300	9,300
Litigation settlement provision					$ 3,600
Parish of Calcasieu
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued expenses								$ 5,000
Parish of Calcasieu | Judicial Ruling | Compensatory Damages
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages awarded to plaintiff			$ 100
Parish of Calcasieu | Judicial Ruling | Punitive Damages
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages awarded to plaintiff			$ 23,000
Parish of Calcasieu | Settled Litigation | Punitive Damages
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages awarded to plaintiff	$ 4,300