Net Sales by GBU (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 2,677	$ 2,475
Renal
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[1]	868	789
Medication Delivery
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[2]	676	664
Pharmaceuticals
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[3]	496	427
Nutrition
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[4]	223	212
Advanced Surgery
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[5]	182	168
Acute Therapies
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[6]	129	106
Other
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[7]	$ 103	$ 109

[1] Renal Care includes sales of the company’s peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) and additional dialysis therapies and services.

[2] Medication Delivery includes sales of the company’s IV therapies, infusion pumps, administration sets and drug reconstitution devices.

[3] Pharmaceuticals includes sales of the company’s premixed and oncology drug platforms, inhaled anesthesia and critical care products and pharmacy compounding services.

[4] Nutrition includes sales of the company’s parenteral nutrition (PN) therapies.

[5] Advanced Surgery includes sales of the company’s biological products and medical devices used in surgical procedures for hemostasis, tissue sealing and adhesion prevention.

[6] Acute Therapies includes sales of the company’s continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) and other organ support therapies focused in the ICU.

[7] Other includes sales primarily from the company’s pharmaceutical partnering business.