<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001645277-17-000001.txt : 20170223
<SEC-HEADER>0001645277-17-000001.hdr.sgml : 20170223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170223165822
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001645277-17-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170223

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:		DF2-1W
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479482000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		DF2-1W
		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:			Vibert Paul
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001645277

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04448
		FILM NUMBER:		17633327

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BAX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001645277</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Vibert Paul</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BAXTER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CVP, International</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock, $1 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>824</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47209</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <value>1169</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                    <value>5281</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52914</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares awarded from the performance share unit award granted on March 4, 2014 pursuant to the Equity Plan adopted by Baxter International Inc. (Baxter) as of such date (the 2014 PSUs). The award provides that fifty percent of the performance share units are earned based on Baxter's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) performance, as assessed annually over a three-year period. One-third of the ROIC performance share units are allocated to each one-year period. The number of shares reported on this Form 4 represents the shares awarded based on Baxter's ROIC during the January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 performance period.  These shares have vested as the relevant three-year performance period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 (the Three-Year Performance Period) has ended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares awarded from the 2014 PSUs.  The award provides that fifty percent of the performance share units are earned based on Baxter's Growth in Shareholder Value (GSV) performance over the Three-Year Performance Period.  The number of shares reported on this Form 4 represents the shares awarded based on Baxter's GSV during the Three-Year Performance Period.  These shares have vested as the Three-Year Performance Period has ended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the number of shares forfeited by the reporting person to cover the withholding of taxes incurred as a result of the vesting of shares earned in 2014, 2015 and 2016 as part of the 2014 PSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares earned from the performance share unit award granted on March 3, 2016 pursuant to the Equity Plan adopted by Baxter as of such date.  The award provides that fifty percent of the performance share units are earned based on the Baxter's Adjusted Operating Margin (OM) performance, as assessed annually over a three-year period. One-third of the OM performance share units are allocated to each one-year period.  The number of shares reported on this Form 4 represents the shares earned based on Baxter's OM, as assessed from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.  These shares are scheduled to vest after the end of the relevant three-year performance period (which runs from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ellen K. McIntosh, as attorney-in-fact for Paul Vibert</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
