Revenues - Net Sales from Contracts with Customers by Global Business Unit (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,851	$ 2,761	$ 8,323	$ 8,266
U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	1,224	1,194	3,537	3,551
International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	1,627	1,567	4,786	4,715
Renal
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	918	907	2,679	2,700
Renal | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	199	209	587	609
Renal | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	719	698	2,092	2,091
Medication Delivery
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	701	652	2,024	2,006
Medication Delivery | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	461	418	1,308	1,280
Medication Delivery | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	240	234	716	726
Pharmaceuticals
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	527	518	1,575	1,548
Pharmaceuticals | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	223	240	690	745
Pharmaceuticals | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	304	278	885	803
Clinical Nutrition
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	219	217	639	660
Clinical Nutrition | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	80	80	236	243
Clinical Nutrition | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	139	137	403	417
Advanced Surgery
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	216	199	646	585
Advanced Surgery | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	134	122	397	339
Advanced Surgery | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	82	77	249	246
Acute Therapies
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	130	122	391	379
Acute Therapies | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	44	41	136	129
Acute Therapies | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	86	81	255	250
Other
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	140	146	369	388
Other | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	83	84	183	206
Other | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 57	$ 62	$ 186	$ 182