Goodwill and other intangible assets - changes in carrying amount by reporting segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 1,608,848
Accumulated impairment losses			(332,128)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 2,235,592	$ 1,276,720
Goodwill related to acquisitions	40,665	893,711
Translation and other adjustments	(29,678)	65,161
Goodwill, ending balance	2,246,579	2,235,592
Vascular North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			485,986
Accumulated impairment losses			(219,527)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	264,869	266,459
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation and other adjustments	0	(1,590)
Goodwill, ending balance	264,869	264,869
Interventional North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			84,615
Accumulated impairment losses			(5,528)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	433,049	79,087
Goodwill related to acquisitions	27,355	342,901
Translation and other adjustments	(4,815)	11,061
Goodwill, ending balance	455,589	433,049
Anesthesia North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			225,784
Accumulated impairment losses			(84,531)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	157,289	141,253
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	15,599
Translation and other adjustments	(950)	437
Goodwill, ending balance	156,339	157,289
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	2,403	0
Translation and other adjustments	0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	253,315	250,912
EMEA
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			290,041
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	494,548	290,041
Goodwill related to acquisitions	4,730	161,543
Translation and other adjustments	(18,663)	42,964
Goodwill, ending balance	480,615	494,548
Asia
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			138,185
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	209,200	138,185
Goodwill related to acquisitions	6,590	59,954
Translation and other adjustments	(4,243)	11,061
Goodwill, ending balance	211,547	209,200
OEM
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			4,883
Accumulated impairment losses			0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	4,883	4,883
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation and other adjustments	0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	4,883	4,883
All other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			128,442
Accumulated impairment losses			$ (22,542)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	420,842	105,900
Goodwill related to acquisitions	(413)	313,714
Translation and other adjustments	(1,007)	1,228
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 419,422	$ 420,842