On two occasions I have seen deer take an arrow and leave with it protruding out of both sides. The first I watched for about 45 minutes after impactas it milled around a doe. Both shots looked good left to right both were what I would consider to be somewhat high.

This fall I took a young doe that had been shot sometime earlier this fall. It had to be a complete pass through for there was not broadhead or arrow in her when she was skinned. You could see where the three blade head had gone through her, again good left to right but high. She had some infection from the wound but I fully believe she would have been okay. She did not exhibit any signs of physical problems i.e. weight, limping etc.

Label this area what you want, all I know is I have seen enough real evidence to know that survival of a certain type of high hit is indeed possible and in many cases probable.