Acquisitions - Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jan. 25, 2019	Dec. 18, 2018	Apr. 27, 2018
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 40,003		$ 39,543
Total
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	112
Investments	52
Accounts receivable	12
Inventory	35
Other current assets	5
Property, plant, and equipment	32
Goodwill	1,360
Other intangible assets	611
Tax assets	6
Total assets acquired	2,225
Current liabilities	101
Accrued income taxes	8
Deferred tax liabilities	65
Total liabilities assumed	174
Net assets acquired	2,051
Mazor Robotics
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 109
Investments		52
Accounts receivable		10
Inventory		8
Other current assets		2
Property, plant, and equipment		3
Goodwill		1,214
Other intangible assets		400
Tax assets		0
Total assets acquired		1,798
Current liabilities		56
Accrued income taxes		3
Deferred tax liabilities		65
Total liabilities assumed		124
Net assets acquired		$ 1,674
All Other
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	3
Investments	0
Accounts receivable	2
Inventory	27
Other current assets	3
Property, plant, and equipment	29
Goodwill	146
Other intangible assets	211
Tax assets	6
Total assets acquired	427
Current liabilities	45
Accrued income taxes	5
Deferred tax liabilities	0
Total liabilities assumed	50
Net assets acquired	$ 377