<p>A ventilation system (10) ventilates surrounding waste gases or bio-contaminants and the like exhaled from a patient or dissipated nearby in the vicinity of the face of the patient. The system generally comprises an envelope (20) having breathable surface portions (40) for collecting gases therethrough into a hollow interior (28) of the envelope. A suction port (30) coupled to the envelope collects the gases from the hollow interior for removal by a suction device (16). The use of an envelope having breathable surface portions which is at least partly flexible permits the system to be readily applied to a patient by simply placing the envelope under the head of the patient like a pillow.</p>
