Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Changes in Goodwill (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2020	Apr. 26, 2019	Apr. 27, 2018
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 39,959,000,000	$ 39,543,000,000
Goodwill as a result of acquisitions	333,000,000	1,510,000,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	124,000,000
Currency translation and other	(575,000,000)	(1,094,000,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	39,841,000,000	39,959,000,000	$ 39,543,000,000
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	6,854,000,000	6,791,000,000
Goodwill as a result of acquisitions	19,000,000	165,000,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	7,000,000
Currency translation and other	(49,000,000)	(102,000,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	6,831,000,000	6,854,000,000	6,791,000,000
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	20,381,000,000	21,155,000,000
Goodwill as a result of acquisitions	227,000,000	83,000,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	2,000,000
Currency translation and other	(434,000,000)	(857,000,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	20,176,000,000	20,381,000,000	21,155,000,000
Restorative Therapies Group
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	10,821,000,000	9,717,000,000
Goodwill as a result of acquisitions	71,000,000	1,238,000,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	120,000,000
Currency translation and other	(92,000,000)	(134,000,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	10,920,000,000	10,821,000,000	9,717,000,000
Diabetes Group
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,903,000,000	1,880,000,000
Goodwill as a result of acquisitions	16,000,000	24,000,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	(5,000,000)
Currency translation and other	0	(1,000,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 1,914,000,000	$ 1,903,000,000	$ 1,880,000,000