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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AOxNv75M343rSem5R7iNsSM5wdA9CvUHMsALl8Rd6kMNNollpZgcOjFukNfF5EMH
 LM7oHjpIpLhTkITQ0fIunA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206172-03-000012.txt : 20030722
<SEC-HEADER>0001206172-03-000012.hdr.sgml : 20030722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030722123751
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206172-03-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030718
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOON JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04448
		FILM NUMBER:		03795974

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479483303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000010456
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				360781620
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAXTER PKWY
		STREET 2:		DF2-2W
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479482000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		DF2-2W
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BAXTER TRAVENOL LABORATORIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880522

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BAXTER LABORATORIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760608
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BAX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOON JOHN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Corporate Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Deferred Compensation Plan - Baxter Stock Fund</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>11.9</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F6"/></exercise
Date><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F6"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $1 par value</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>11.9</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>645.1</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reporting person allocated compensation deferred under Baxter's Deferred Compensation Plan (&quot;Plan&quot;) to the Baxter Common Stock Fund notional investment alternative.  The value of the reporting person's Plan account is based on the performance of the Baxter Common Stock Fund and any other benchmark in
vestment funds selected by the reporting person.  Amounts deferred are not actually invested in the Baxter Common Stock Fund or Baxter Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F2">1-for-1</footnote><footnote id="F3">Equal to the amount of compensation deferred under the Plan on July 18, 2003 allocated to the Baxter Common Stock Fund notional investment alternative, divided by $26.00 which was the closing price of Baxter Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on July 18, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Reporting person's account balance under the Plan is payable in cash after termination of employment or on a future date designated in advance by the reporting person, subject to the terms of the Plan. The reporting person may change investment elections quarterly.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Equal to the reporting person's Baxter Common Stock Fund account balance as of July 18, 2003, divided by $26.00 which was the closing price of Baxter Common Stock on July 18, 2003, as reported by the New Yo
rk Stock Exchange.  </footnote><footnote id="F6">SEC staff has designated &quot;08/08/1988&quot; as a &quot;dummy date&quot; until the EDGAR system is modified.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>William M. Link, Attorney-in-Fact for John C. Moon</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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