Among other possible complications Rachel Alexandra might face are abdominal adhesions, septic peritonitis, and infections of the surgical incision.

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The FDA lists possible complications from the Lap-Band procedure: vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal pain, pulmonary embolism or leaking that could lead to death.

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Of course, there are always possible complications.

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What are the possible complications?

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But the complications are another argument for the Court to rule as narrowly as possible, deferring as much as possible to democratic debate.

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One possible consequence is excessive growth of the baby, increasing risk of premature birth and other complications.

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Complications such as pre-eclampsia were hard to predict so it was not possible to decide which women were "low risk" cases and therefore suitable for birth at midwife-led units, he said.

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Serious long-lasting complications including nervous system disorders and blindness and - very rarely - brain inflammation are possible.

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It is not yet known whether it is possible to generate extensive neuroplasticity in a system that has been injured for a long time and now contains many more complications such as abundant scar tissue, large holes in the spinal cord and where many spinal nerve cells and long range nerve fibres have died or degenerated.

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