Goodwill and other intangible assets - changes in carrying amount by reporting segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 1,627,980
Accumulated impairment losses			(332,128)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,276,720	$ 1,295,852
Goodwill related to acquisitions	893,711	3,689
Translation adjustment	65,161	(22,821)
Goodwill, ending balance	2,235,592	1,276,720
Vascular North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			485,986
Accumulated impairment losses			(219,527)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	266,459	266,459
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation adjustment	(1,590)	0
Goodwill, ending balance	264,869	266,459
Interventional North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			84,615
Accumulated impairment losses			(5,528)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	79,087	79,087
Goodwill related to acquisitions	342,901	0
Translation adjustment	11,061	0
Goodwill, ending balance	433,049	79,087
Anesthesia North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			225,653
Accumulated impairment losses			(84,531)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	141,253	141,122
Goodwill related to acquisitions	15,599	0
Translation adjustment	437	131
Goodwill, ending balance	157,289	141,253
Surgical North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			250,912
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	250,912	250,912
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	250,912	250,912
EMEA
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			306,009
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	290,041	306,009
Goodwill related to acquisitions	161,543	0
Translation adjustment	42,964	(15,968)
Goodwill, ending balance	494,548	290,041
Asia
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			141,067
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	138,185	141,067
Goodwill related to acquisitions	59,954	0
Translation adjustment	11,061	(2,882)
Goodwill, ending balance	209,200	138,185
OEM
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			1,194
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	4,883	1,194
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	3,689
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	4,883	4,883
All other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			132,544
Accumulated impairment losses			$ (22,542)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	105,900	110,002
Goodwill related to acquisitions	313,714	0
Translation adjustment	1,228	(4,102)
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 420,842	$ 105,900