Financial Instruments and Related Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions					12 Months Ended
	May 26, 2016	May 06, 2016	Mar. 16, 2016	Jan. 27, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial Instruments and Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents					$ 2,801	$ 2,213	$ 2,925	$ 2,733
Available-for-sale securities						5,148
Net realized gains on the Retained Share transactions	$ 537	$ 611			$ 4,387
Number of outstanding shares of Baxter common stock acquired in exchange	11,526,638				11,526,638
Other expense (income), net
Financial Instruments and Fair Value [Line Items]
Equity income recognized from equity method investments						38
Baxalta Inc
Financial Instruments and Fair Value [Line Items]
Number of outstanding shares of Baxter common stock acquired in exchange	11,526,638
Spinoff
Financial Instruments and Fair Value [Line Items]
Disposition of Baxalta shares of common stock	13,360,527		63,823,582	37,573,040
U.S. Pension Plan
Financial Instruments and Fair Value [Line Items]
Contribution of Retained Shares to pension plan		17,145,570			17,145,570
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Financial Instruments and Fair Value [Line Items]
Money market funds, at carrying value					$ 1,400
Available-for-sale securities						5,100
Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy
Financial Instruments and Fair Value [Line Items]
Total accounts receivable from certain countries with liquidity issues					$ 137	$ 211