Employee Retirement Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	$ 213	$ 189
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	232	207	$ 152
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount	107	87	54
Defined Benefit Plan, Acquired and Established Plan Changes, Plan Assets	16	19
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts for Asset (Liability) Recognized in Statement of Financial Position	125	120
Defined Benefit Plan, Acquired and Established Plan Changes, Plan Assets	23	33
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	14	13
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	4	4
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	(1)	2
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Increase (Decrease) for Plan Amendment	(2)	(1)
pension benefit obligation, benefits paid	(10)	(8)
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(3)	11
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Increase (Decrease) for Actual Return (Loss)	(2)	6
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Contributions by Employer	14	10
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Contributions by Plan Participant	2	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Benefits Paid	10	8
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	0	4
Expense related to matching contributions	87	79	$ 72
Executive retirement plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	17	18
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	20	21
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts for Asset (Liability) Recognized in Statement of Financial Position	$ 20	$ 21
Executive Retirement Plan Discount Rate	4.00%	3.25%
Executive Retirement Plan Rate of Compensation Increase	3.00%	3.00%
Guidant supplement retirement plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	$ 30	$ 33
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	30	33
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts for Asset (Liability) Recognized in Statement of Financial Position	$ 30	$ 33
Executive Retirement Plan Discount Rate	4.25%	3.50%
International retirement plans [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	$ 166	$ 138
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	182	153
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount	107	87
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts for Asset (Liability) Recognized in Statement of Financial Position	$ 75	$ 66
International retirement plans [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Executive Retirement Plan Discount Rate	2.34%	2.25%
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Assumptions used to Determine Expected Return	4.10%	4.10%
Executive Retirement Plan Rate of Compensation Increase	6.78%	6.78%
International retirement plans [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Executive Retirement Plan Discount Rate	0.50%	0.50%
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Assumptions used to Determine Expected Return	1.90%	2.50%
Executive Retirement Plan Rate of Compensation Increase	1.50%	1.50%