Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| reportablesegments	3
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,543	$ 2,493
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments		686
Amortization expense	(201)	(160)
Operating income (loss)	146	541
Other expense, net	(124)	(84)
Income (loss) before income taxes	22	457
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	774	766
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 259	$ 256
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	33.40%	33.40%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 703	$ 757
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 99	$ 155
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	14.10%	20.50%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,026	$ 972
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 199	$ 275
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	19.40%	28.30%
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,502
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	41
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	(33)	$ (48)
Special Charges [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	(202)	$ 63
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	556
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	41
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	$ 26

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