Acquisitions (Allocation Of The Preliminary Purchase Price To The Acquired Net Assets Of Acquisitions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 7,168	$ 6,356	$ 4,136
Weighted average life of intangible assets	14 years	15 years
Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average life of intangible assets	15 years	15 years
Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average life of intangible assets	12 years	14 years
NOVADAQ [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price paid	$ 716
Contingent consideration	0
Total consideration	716
Cash	42
Accounts receivable	11
Inventory	39
Other assets	9
Liabilities	(58)
Goodwill	521
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, net	$ 716
Weighted average life of intangible assets	14 years
NOVADAQ [Member] | Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets	$ 18
NOVADAQ [Member] | Trade name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets	1
NOVADAQ [Member] | Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets	133
NOVADAQ [Member] | IPRD
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets	$ 0
Sage Products [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price paid		$ 2,870
Contingent consideration		5
Total consideration		2,875
Cash		91
Accounts receivable		29
Inventory		63
Other assets		80
Liabilities		(83)
Goodwill		1,522
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, net		$ 2,875
Weighted average life of intangible assets		15 years
Sage Products [Member] | Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		$ 930
Sage Products [Member] | Trade name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		70
Sage Products [Member] | Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		173
Sage Products [Member] | IPRD
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		0
Physio Acquisition [Domain]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price paid		1,299
Contingent consideration		0
Total consideration		1,299
Cash		32
Accounts receivable		107
Inventory		61
Other assets		103
Liabilities		(364)
Goodwill		623
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, net		$ 1,299
Weighted average life of intangible assets		14 years
Physio Acquisition [Domain] | Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		$ 344
Physio Acquisition [Domain] | Trade name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		160
Physio Acquisition [Domain] | Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		226
Physio Acquisition [Domain] | IPRD
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, acquired intangible assets		$ 7