Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments	2
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ (203)	$ (198)
Operating income (loss)	552	466
Other expense, net	(108)	(310)
Income (loss) before income taxes	444	156
Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Net Sales	88	(40)
Net sales	3,389	3,026
MedSurg [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	400	371
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 1,252	$ 1,164
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	31.90%	31.80%
Net sales	$ 1,280	$ 1,153
Cardiovascular [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	541	477
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 2,049	$ 1,902
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	26.40%	25.10%
Net sales	$ 2,110	$ 1,873
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	3,301	3,066
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	940	847
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(75)	(66)
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net (charges) credits, restructuring- and restructuring-related net (charges) credits, EU MDR implementation costs and litigation-related net (charges) credits
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (110)	$ (117)