Revenue - Disaggregation of Net Sales by Segment and Division (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Oct. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 7,706	$ 7,481	$ 15,199	$ 14,865
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,855	2,858	5,645	5,669
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,426	1,472	2,807	2,898
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Coronary & Structural Heart
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	955	906	1,896	1,823
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Aortic, Peripheral, & Venous
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	474	480	942	948
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,142	2,047	4,242	4,099
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Surgical Innovations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,454	1,393	2,871	2,790
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, & Renal
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	688	654	1,371	1,309
Restorative Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,112	1,993	4,124	3,942
Restorative Therapies Group | Brain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	772	701	1,512	1,375
Restorative Therapies Group | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	692	656	1,349	1,308
Restorative Therapies Group | Specialty Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	333	322	656	631
Restorative Therapies Group | Pain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	315	314	607	628
Diabetes Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 596	$ 583	$ 1,188	$ 1,155