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Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	$ 21,353	$ 7,683
Foreign currency translation adjustments	198
Amount of reduction of goodwill relating to impairments	0
Established Pharmaceutical Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	3,100
Nutritional Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	286
Diagnostic Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	417
Cardiovascular and Neuromodulation Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	16,600
AMO \| Dispositions held for sale
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill reclassified to Non-current assets held for disposition	2,000
St Jude Medical
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill acquired	14,600
St Jude Medical \| Terumo
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Reductions of goodwill due to sale of certain businesses	$ 1,100