Which statement about wet gangrene is true?

Wet gangrene is characterized by an area of tissue that is affected by infection and is often associated with a compromised blood supply. The presence of moisture, bacteria, and necrotic tissue contributes to the rapid progression of wet gangrene.

When wet gangrene occurs, the affected area typically appears swollen and can be significantly warm due to inflammation and the presence of bacteria. The area is often discolored, and a foul odor may be present due to the decay of tissues. This differs notably from dry gangrene, where the tissue is usually cooler and shrinks because it is not associated with infection.

The other statements can be clarified by context:

The first statement about arterial blood supply being cut off aligns more with dry gangrene rather than wet gangrene, which is primarily caused by venous return issues or bacterial infections. The third statement regarding the spread of tissue damage being slow is inaccurate; wet gangrene spreads quite rapidly compared to dry gangrene due to the infection. Lastly, the statement that it is usually dry and shrinks is a characteristic of dry gangrene rather than wet gangrene, which, as the name suggests, has a moist appearance and is associated with the necrosis of infected tissue.