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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PN8DunHE9WrTP1xcza8fjoXdIWdgjBi6ktSax7MERmBuuHHaIt89KU196ZtHya5z
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001124170-03-000003.txt : 20031120
<SEC-HEADER>0001124170-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031120153733
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001124170-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031120

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEL SALTO CARLOS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001124170

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04448
		FILM NUMBER:		031015541

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JAN STERN REED BAXTER INTERNATIONAL
		STREET 2:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY DF2 2W
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479482212

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JAN STERN REED BAXTER INTERNATIONAL
		STREET 2:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY DF2 2W
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BAX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001124170</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEL SALTO CARLOS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BAXTER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>90750</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-11-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common stock, $1 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>90750</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>90750</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName> William M. Link, Attorney-in-Fact for Carlos del Salto</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>delsalto.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>POWER OF ATTORNEY



          Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Jan Stern

Reed, Thomas J. Sabatino, Jr. and William M. Link, signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-

in-fact to:

(1)        execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an officer

and/or director of Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare Corporation or Baxter World Trade

Corporation (collectively "Baxter") Forms 3, 4, 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder and Form 144 under Rule 144 under the Securities

Act of 1933;

(2)        do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be

necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, 5, or 144 and complete and

execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and timely file any such form with the United

States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority; and

(3)        take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the

opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the

undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of

the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such

terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

 The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and

perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise

of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned

might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and

confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do

or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The

undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of

the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is Baxter assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to

comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933.

         This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file

Forms 3, 4, 5 and 144 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by Baxter,

unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of

this 26 day of August, 2002.

/s/ Carlos del Salto









4

POAFORM.DOC

POAFORM.DOC

</PRE></BODY></HTML>

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