Goodwill and other intangible assets - changes in carrying amount by reporting segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	$ 1,686,331us-gaap_GoodwillGross	$ 1,570,580us-gaap_GoodwillGross
Accumulated impairment losses	(332,128)	(332,128)	(332,128)
Goodwill net	1,323,553us-gaap_Goodwill	1,354,203us-gaap_Goodwill	1,238,452us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill related to acquisitions	16,392us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	123,284us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Translation adjustment	(47,042)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments	(7,533)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Goodwill gross, ending balance	1,655,681us-gaap_GoodwillGross	1,686,331us-gaap_GoodwillGross
Vascular North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	459,696	407,090
Accumulated impairment losses	(219,527)	(219,527)	(219,527)
Goodwill net	240,169	240,169	187,563
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	52,606
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill gross, ending balance	459,696	459,696
Anesthesia Respiratory North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	167,195	167,942
Accumulated impairment losses	(107,073)	(107,073)	(107,073)
Goodwill net	59,441	60,122	60,869
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	0
Translation adjustment	(681)	(747)
Goodwill gross, ending balance	166,514	167,195
Surgical North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	250,506	245,794
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0	0
Goodwill net	250,912	250,506	245,794
Goodwill related to acquisitions	406	4,712
Translation adjustment	0	0
Goodwill gross, ending balance	250,912	250,506
EMEA Segment
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	373,417	353,282
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0	0
Goodwill net	339,029	373,417	353,282
Goodwill related to acquisitions		17,922
Translation adjustment	(34,388)	2,213
Goodwill gross, ending balance	339,029	373,417
Asia Segment
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	136,946	139,469
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0	0
Goodwill net	144,712	136,946	139,469
Goodwill related to acquisitions	15,986	6,394
Translation adjustment	(8,220)	(8,917)
Goodwill gross, ending balance	144,712	136,946
All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill gross, beginning balance	298,571	257,003
Accumulated impairment losses	(5,528)	(5,528)	(5,528)
Goodwill net	289,290	293,043	251,475
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0	41,650
Translation adjustment	(3,753)	(82)
Goodwill gross, ending balance	$ 294,818	$ 298,571

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

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

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-Publisher FASB

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