Final answer:
A wandering baseline is the artifact that can cause the EKG tracing to appear as if it is drifting away from the center, distinguishing itself from other types of electrical interferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The artifact that can appear as drifting away from the center of the EKG tracing is known as a wandering baseline. This phenomenon may occur due to various factors, such as poor electrode contact with the skin, patient movement, or issues with the EKG machine itself. It is important to differentiate a wandering baseline from other forms of electrical interference, such as AC interference, which is characterized by consistent small spikes on the EKG due to electrical devices in the vicinity, or somatic interference, which results from the patient's voluntary or involuntary muscle activity.
To assess and interpret an ECG accurately, it's essential to recognize the key components of an EKG, which are the P wave, representing atrial depolarization; the QRS complex, representing ventricular depolarization; and the T wave, representing ventricular repolarization. Moreover, conditions such as second-degree block, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia can also alter the appearance of an EKG and need to be considered in differential diagnosis.