硬脊膜外麻醉(epidura、epidural analgesia/epidural anaesthesial)是局部麻醉的一种。透过导管，将药物注射在硬脊膜外间隙。注射药物阻隔附近脊髓神经发送消息，从而可以使到失去感觉（麻醉），或只达至失去痛楚(止痛)。

人体的「硬脊膜外间隙」是脊椎的一部分。硬脊膜外间隙位置在骨质的椎管内，硬脊膜以外 。硬脊膜内为蛛网膜。蛛网膜包着脑脊液，脑脊液围绕着脊髓。

脊椎麻醉是另一种不同的局部麻醉方法，将麻醉药直接注射到脑脊液。这方法与硬脊膜外麻醉有相类似之处，二者不相同，但亦有时会同用。

Epidural administration (from Ancient Greek ἐπί, "on, upon" + dura mater) is a medical route of administration in which a drug or contrast agent is injected into the epidural space of the spinal cord. Techniques such as epidural analgesia and epidural anaesthesia employ this route of administration. The epidural route is frequently employed by certain physicians and nurse anaesthetists to administer diagnostic (e.g. radiocontrast agents) and therapeutic (e.g., glucocorticoids) chemical substances, as well as certain analgesic and local anaesthetic agents. Epidural techniques frequently involve injection of drugs through a catheter placed into the epidural space. The injection can result in a loss of sensation—including the sensation of pain—by blocking the transmission of signals through nerve fibers in or near the spinal cord.