Revenue - Disaggregation of Net Sales by Market Geography for Each Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2024	Apr. 28, 2023	Apr. 29, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 32,364	$ 31,227	$ 31,686
U.S. Pension Benefits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	16,562	16,373	16,135
Non-U.S. Developed Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	9,979	9,408	10,126
Emerging Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	5,823	5,446	5,426
Reportable segment net sales
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	32,142	30,731	30,959
Reportable segment net sales | U.S. Pension Benefits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	16,471	16,212	15,876
Reportable segment net sales | Non-U.S. Developed Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	9,929	9,245	9,907
Reportable segment net sales | Emerging Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	5,742	5,273	5,176
Cardiovascular
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	11,831	11,522	11,368
Cardiovascular | U.S. Pension Benefits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	5,597	5,796	5,490
Cardiovascular | Non-U.S. Developed Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	3,857	3,564	3,866
Cardiovascular | Emerging Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,377	2,161	2,012
Neuroscience
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	9,406	8,959	8,784
Neuroscience | U.S. Pension Benefits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	6,305	6,018	5,753
Neuroscience | Non-U.S. Developed Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,739	1,658	1,801
Neuroscience | Emerging Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,362	1,283	1,229
Medical Surgical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	8,417	7,989	8,469
Medical Surgical | U.S. Pension Benefits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	3,717	3,549	3,659
Medical Surgical | Non-U.S. Developed Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	3,049	2,917	3,155
Medical Surgical | Emerging Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,650	1,522	1,655
Diabetes
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,488	2,262	2,338
Diabetes | U.S. Pension Benefits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	852	849	974
Diabetes | Non-U.S. Developed Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,284	1,106	1,085
Diabetes | Emerging Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	352	307	279
Other operating segment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	221	495	727
Other operating segment | U.S. Pension Benefits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	91	160	259
Other operating segment | Non-U.S. Developed Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	50	163	218
Other operating segment | Emerging Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 81	$ 172	$ 250