In a 36-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis and refractory cardiogenic shock, an emergency percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty was performed, followed by clinical improvement, allowing elective aortic valve replacement at the 48th day post-valvuloplasty. Clinical follow-up for eight months after surgery showed significant functional improvement. Aortic balloon valvuloplasty is a life-saving approach to patients with severe aortic stenosis and high surgical risk and should be considered as a bridge to planned valve replacement or cardiac transplantation. Aortic valve replacement should be considered even in patients with severe ventricular dysfunction, while the cardiac transplantation should be indicated for patients with a very marked and irreversible depression of myocardial contractility.