The objective of a new study published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine was to investigate the clinical efficacy of pulmonary surfactant combined with high-dose ambroxol hydrochloride in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). In this study, 100 children with NRDS, according to the diagnostic criteria for RDS in Pediatrics, in Linyi Central Hospital were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=50) and the control group (n=50) based on different therapeutic methods. Patients in the control group received basic treatment and high-dose ambroxol hydrochloride injection while those in the treatment group were additionally administered a pulmonary surfactant, based on conventional therapy in the control group. Chest X-rays were taken before the treatment and at 12 hours after the drug administration. The degree of respiratory distress in these pediatric patients was recorded and evaluated via Silverman grading, and changes in blood gas indices were noted, before treatment and at 2, 6 and 12 hours after the drug administration. It was observed that chest X-ray grade, Silverman grade and blood gas analysis results were equivalent between the two groups before the treatment. In the treatment group, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and pH were increased and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) was decreased compared to those in the control group, at 2, 6 and 12 hours after the drug administration. At 12 hours after drug administration, chest X-ray grade and Silverman grade in both groups showed improvements, which were significantly superior in the treatment group than that of the control group. In addition, efficacy in the treatment group was remarkably better than that in the control group at 12 hours after drug administration. From the results, it was concluded that pulmonary surfactant combined with high-dose ambroxol hydrochloride has definite efficacy in the treatment of NRDS, which can significantly improve pulmonary infection, respiratory distress and blood gas indexes of pediatric patients.