Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 14,143	$ 13,345		$ 14,143
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(8,290)	(7,806)		(8,290)
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	374	377		374
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	128		$ 219	173	$ 452
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance				9,951
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments				(20)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				1,890
Goodwill Ending Balance	11,820	9,951		11,820
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, after Tax	61		(50)	182	36
Cost of products sold	900		869	2,739	2,465
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, after Tax	11		14	21	52
Interest Expense	86		86	254	265
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net	(181)		(64)	(192)	(9)
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	79		(64)	234	47
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, Tax	(18)		14	(53)	(11)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, after Tax	61		(50)	182	36
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, before Tax	(16)		(20)	(31)	(70)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, Tax	3		4	7	16
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, after Tax	(12)		(15)	(24)	(55)
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Investment Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	7		(21)	50	(4)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, Tax	(2)		5	(11)	(21)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, after Tax	6		(16)	39	(25)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, before Tax	(2)		(6)	(11)	(18)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, Tax	0		1	3	4
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, after Tax	(2)		(5)	(9)	(14)
foreign currency denominated in debt [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Investment Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	25		(46)	60	(44)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, Tax	(6)		10	(14)	13
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, after Tax	20		(36)	47	(31)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, before Tax	0		0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, Tax	0		0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, after Tax	0		0	0	0
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	0		0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, Tax	0		0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, after Tax	0		0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, before Tax	1		1	4	4
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, Tax	0		0	(1)	(1)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, after Tax	1		$ 1	3	$ 3
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance				2,059
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments				(4)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				578
Goodwill Ending Balance	2,633	2,059		2,633
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance				2,194
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments				(1)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				1,312
Goodwill Ending Balance	3,506	2,194		3,506
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance				5,697
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments				(15)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				0
Goodwill Ending Balance	5,682	5,697		5,682
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		73
Goodwill [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	21,720	19,924		21,720
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,973)		(9,900)
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	254	257		254
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120	120		120
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	11,787	11,059		11,787
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,590)	(6,179)		(6,590)
Patents [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	497	511		497
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(399)	(407)		(399)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,859	1,775		1,859
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (1,301)	$ (1,220)		$ (1,301)