Medical experts at the Xijing Hospital in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has successfully transplanted a liver from a donor who does not share the same blood type with the patient.

This was the first time a liver transplant has taken place in which the donor is not a relative or next of kin and does not share the same blood type. It is the fourth operation of the kind in the world.

The patient, a 20-year-old female student from Zizhou County of Shaanxi Province, suffered from Wilson's disease, which leads to bad sight, slurred speech and problems in walking.

Seventy experts and surgeons from 22 departments in the hospital were involved in the operation. They cut off part of the left liver (266 grams) and transplanted a 295-gram liver into the patient. The operation took 17 hours.

According to the hospital, the patient has regained her appetite, and the donor is in good condition.

(From People's Daily)