Revenues - Net Sales from Contracts with Customers by Global Business Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,802	$ 2,638
U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	1,217	1,120
International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	1,585	1,518
Renal
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	870	854
Renal | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	204	192
Renal | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	666	662
Medication Delivery
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	690	634
Medication Delivery | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	461	406
Medication Delivery | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	229	228
Pharmaceuticals
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	527	510
Pharmaceuticals | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	231	232
Pharmaceuticals | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	296	278
Clinical Nutrition
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	220	205
Clinical Nutrition | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	82	77
Clinical Nutrition | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	138	128
Advanced Surgery
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	224	199
Advanced Surgery | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	137	120
Advanced Surgery | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	87	79
Acute Therapies
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	156	129
Acute Therapies | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	60	48
Acute Therapies | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	96	81
Other
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	115	107
Other | U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	42	45
Other | International
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 73	$ 62