Revenue - Disaggregation of Net Sales by Segment and Division (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2019	Jan. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Jul. 27, 2018	Apr. 27, 2018	Jan. 26, 2018	Oct. 27, 2017	Jul. 28, 2017	Apr. 26, 2019	Apr. 27, 2018	Apr. 28, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 8,146	$ 7,546	$ 7,481	$ 7,384	$ 8,144	$ 7,369	$ 7,050	$ 7,390	$ 30,557	$ 29,953	$ 29,710
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									11,505	11,354	10,498
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									5,849	5,947	5,649
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Coronary & Structural Heart
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									3,730	3,562	3,113
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Aortic, Peripheral & Venous
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,926	1,845	1,736
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									8,478	8,716	9,919
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Surgical Innovations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									5,753	5,537	5,145
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, & Renal
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,725	3,179	4,774
Restorative Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									8,183	7,743	7,366
Restorative Therapies Group | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,654	2,668	2,641
Restorative Therapies Group | Brain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,604	2,354	2,098
Restorative Therapies Group | Specialty Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,641	1,556	1,491
Restorative Therapies Group | Pain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,284	1,165	1,136
Diabetes Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 2,391	$ 2,140	$ 1,927