[first paragraph of article] Aortic valve (AV) disease is a common condition with its prevalence, particularly aortic stenosis increasing exponentially with advancing age. A decade ago conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) was the only treatment when medical management failed and symptoms developed. More than half of the patients potentially eligible for surgery have coexistent conditions making them unsuitable or very high-risk candidates. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty had too rapid a rate of restenosis to make it a viable long-term alternative . It was therefore occasionally used as a bridge or test to assess suitability for AVR in patients with severe but potentially reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or comorbidities.