Restructuring and other impairment charges - restructuring program (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	$ 14,790	$ 15,871	$ 7,819
Impairment charges		43,356
Total restructuring and impairment charges		59,227
2017 Vascular Solutions integration program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	5,495
2017 EMEA restructuring program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	5,201
Other 2016 restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	878	3,214
2016 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	2,097	12,510
2015 Restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges			6,304
2014 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	755	119	1,685
Other restructuring programs - prior years
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	364	28	(170)
Termination benefits
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	13,316	13,230	5,822
Impairment charges		0
Total restructuring and impairment charges		13,230
Termination benefits | 2017 Vascular Solutions integration program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	5,377
Termination benefits | 2017 EMEA restructuring program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	4,921
Termination benefits | Other 2016 restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	589	2,531
Termination benefits | 2016 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	1,314	11,176
Termination benefits | 2015 Restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges			5,009
Termination benefits | 2014 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	687	81	1,007
Termination benefits | Other restructuring programs - prior years
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	428	(558)	(194)
Facility closure and other exit costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	803	916	621
Impairment charges		43,356
Total restructuring and impairment charges		44,272
Facility closure and other exit costs | 2017 Vascular Solutions integration program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	118
Facility closure and other exit costs | 2017 EMEA restructuring program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	280
Facility closure and other exit costs | Other 2016 restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	77	12
Facility closure and other exit costs | 2016 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	420	468
Facility closure and other exit costs | 2015 Restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges			295
Facility closure and other exit costs | 2014 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	68	38	289
Facility closure and other exit costs | Other restructuring programs - prior years
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	(160)	398	37
Contract termination costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	671	1,725	1,376
Impairment charges		0
Total restructuring and impairment charges		1,725
Contract termination costs | 2017 Vascular Solutions integration program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	0
Contract termination costs | 2017 EMEA restructuring program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	0
Contract termination costs | Other 2016 restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	212	671
Contract termination costs | 2016 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	363	866
Contract termination costs | 2015 Restructuring programs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges			1,000
Contract termination costs | 2014 Manufacturing footprint realignment plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	0	0	389
Contract termination costs | Other restructuring programs - prior years
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges	$ 96	$ 188	$ (13)